Waipa rates to rise by 2.9pc

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Waipa residents will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets after the district council confirmed a 2.9 per cent rates increase for next year.

Councillors passed the recommendation at the full council meeting in Te Awamutu after adoption of the 2014-15 annual plan. The rate was reduced from a forecast 4.7 per cent in the 10-year plan.

Financial estimates for the year include a rate requirement of $45 million. The capital works programme was set at $40.6m, up $6.7m from what was proposed in the draft annual plan.

A separate recommendation to the annual plan was adopted which covered an "expenditure item" of $2.1m to build a roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Shakespeare St in Cambridge.

A temporary roundabout was installed in January during repairs to the Victoria bridge.

If work went ahead to make the feature permanent, it would likely attract a 75 per cent subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency, councillors were told. However, chief executive Garry Dyet said it was unlikely the agency would approve a $2.1m roundabout and the council would be asked to consider a cheaper option.

A final decision on construction of the roundabout is due to be made next month.